Call it two dads and a little baby — vulture edition.
Two male griffon vultures, who have been together for years, have hatched an egg at the Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo.
The Dutch zoo said keepers found an egg abandoned on the floor of vulture aviary, so they scooped it up and placed it in an incubator. Meanwhile, the gay couple had built a nest on the rock. Zookeepers figured they’d see if the birds would take it in.
And, they did.
The couple even shared the work by taking turns sitting on the egg until it hatched, the zoo explained Wednesday. They’re now splitting duties feeding the young chick regurgitated food.
In ARTIS zijn twee vale gieren uit het ei gekropen: één van een homostel, en één van twee verkeersslachtoffers. https://t.co/KWs0Gliudy pic.twitter.com/o6seNKZgQo
— ARTIS (@ARTIS) May 31, 2017
The phenomenon isn’t that unusual.
“This is not uncommon in the animal kingdom: there are regular homosexual couples, especially among birds,” the zoo added. “The two fathers have been good for the chick so far.”
But this is the first time gay birds have hatched an egg at the Dutch capital’s zoo.
People, naturally, are crowing about the amazing parenthood story.
– gay vulture dads
– cared for an egg randomly placed in their nest
– took turns doing ‘mom’ duties
– vultures: radhttps://t.co/OusjUkC73Z— Cow (@criacow) May 31, 2017
— (@EspressoEmotion) May 31, 2017
No gay couples in the nature? Well.. you’re wrong. #Pride2017 #BabyBirds https://t.co/Uo3hMdJh0k
— aastha shetty (@aastha_shetty) May 31, 2017
Remember: the Dutch were first with marriage equality between humans. https://t.co/2LMBSK26ED
— Eminent Gentleman (@eminentgent) May 31, 2017
h/t Toronto Star Photos ARTIS
